Toshiba Storage Device Division announces the industry’s first 1.8-inch drives with low-insertion force (LIF) SATA (Serial ATA) connectors, which enables a 10% smaller footprint compared to standard 1.8-inch drives using microSATA connectors.This drive can use in multiple devices, including tablets, consumer electronics devices and external HDDs.The new Toshiba MKxx39GSL series offers three models, at 160GB (MK1639GSL), 200GB (MK2039GSL) and 220GB (MK2239GSL) capacities.Toshiba MK2239GSL features the largest capacity 1.8-inch single-platter HDD (5mmH) available.Toshiba MK2239GSL, MK2039GSL and the MK1639GSL are designed for the most demanding mobile computing applications, surpassing 2.5-inch HDDs in terms of vibration robustness, low power consumption and quiet operation. Samples will be available for customer qualification in February.

Toshiba MKxx39GSL family is designed for applications requiring not only the smaller, lighter footprint of 1.8-inch drives, but also the highest possible storage capacities. Both feature a 16MB buffer for improved performance. The drives are capable of withstanding the demands of mobility usage, tolerating up to 1,500Gs of non-operational shock and 600Gs of operational shock, compared to 900G of non-operational shock and 400G of operational shock for the most robust 2.5-inch HDDs currently available. The drives are also exceptionally quiet operating at 14dB at idle and 15dB at seek with requirement only 0.35 Watts of power at low power idle.The smallest power consumption levels for any SATA drive. All of this performance is delivered in a form factor of just 48g/5x54x71mm.Toshiba has pioneered the development and advancement of 1.8″ drives, starting with the industry’s first volume 1.8″ drives in 2000.